SRS Truggy results

I always try and enter the SRS series, having come 4th (tied 3rd) in both 2012 and 2013 to Jack Embling in nitro buggy and winning truggy twice many years earlier.

This year I got an outstanding late deal on a Kyosho ST-RR Evo truggy, so I chose to try my hand at truggy again after a long period having never driven one, but would go in to the series with no practice with the truck.

Round 1 - Remote World MCC - Slough

The meeting started out with a damp looking track, but looks can be deceptive and the track was actually very grippy with very little clinging mud.

I started Q1 with the setup suggested by Tommy Chung, as he'd raced his truggy in some of the national series the year before, and the truck was very good straight away, via for top spot with Jon Hazelwood.

Unfortunately a mistake on my part having not loctited the servo horn screw would lead to a dnf in Q1.

With the screw firmly in place for Q2, I would have a clean runs in both Q2 and Q3 taking 2nd in round for both and line up P2 for the main final.

In prep for the main final, I noticed a small binding in the rear gearbox that I wasn't happy with and wanted to fix for the 20 minute final. It took a little to long though as they decided to run the truggy final first and I missed the first 8 minutes and could only come away with 6th.

Round 2 - KMRC - Kent

The track looked a bit patchy during drivers briefing ad there had been overnight rain, but this quickly dried once the sun came out.

It was an ounce that due to low entries for Round 3, that it would be dropped off the series for this year, making in now 3 from 4 rounds to count for the championship.

We would also have the truggy and ebuggies running together due to low turn out.

Id made a few changes to the shock oils from the previous round, softening the rear for Kent and was eager to get on track.

Q1 didn't go to plan with an equipment failure. The truggy was fine, my starter box battery gave up in the warm up area.

Q2 and Q3 wer much better and I would take 2nd in both, playing with my ackwrman and ride heights to try and gain some more steering. All changes were an improvement, but more would be nice.

There was a 3-way tie for TQ, all on 4 points, but the other 2 drivers had a 1-3, so I would start 3rd.

I took my time at the start of the final and picked of both 2nd and 1st over the first 5 minutes and built a nice lead. I was planning on 10 minutes stops, but with a comfortable lead, I called down to change to a 2 stop.

After my first fuel stop, I came out just behind the new leader and quickly overtook and built up a half lap and cruised to victory.

Round 3 - CMCC - Clanfield

Clanfield was the venue for R3 and all 3 qualifying rounds would be a tight battle between myself and Jon Hazelwood, with the Tq times swapping lap on lap and only ever 2 seconds between us in any run.

Jon would take the Tq though.

I had a rough start in the final, being hit repeatedly on the first lap and dropping back down the field. This allowed Jon a comfortable gap.

I battled through all the other drivers to get to 2nd, when Jon unexpectedly stopped and I inherited the lead. Would turn out that Jon blew his engine.

I came in for fuel at 10 minutes with a 5 second lead, but over the first jump exiting the pits my engine cut.

My pit crew got it refired and I began chasing down the pack from 3/4 lap down.

I managed to get back to second, running fast lap after fast lap, but couldn't quite get to the leader. Tony won by about 5 seconds. Just needed one more lap.

Round 4 - HMRC -Herts

On to the last round and there was a lot of talk about who needed what to finish where, some telling me 5th would be enough. I'd looked at the points and thought that 3rd would do it, but 2nd be the target to be safe.

The track was oiled early in the morning and would be very slick in those places all day.

I really struggled with turn in on the slick spots and tried numerous shock position and rear camber link locations to 'free-up' the rear.

Although every run I improved the truck, going from 5th to 3rd then 2nd in round, I couldn't get what I wanted.

I lined up 3rd on the grid (tied in qualifying with 2nd on points) and was comfortable to sit there and pull a sizeable gap on 4th.

Darren and myself would exchange places for the first 6 minutes.

Seeing the size of the gap I had 2 4th and my (apparent) closest championship rival, I made the call to 2 stop instead of 1.

After my stop I put in a bit of a push and when Darren pitted from 2nd, I came out in front.

I heard him call that his tyres were gone so I steadily pulled a gap in order to make my 2nd stop. My pit crew called an early stop seeing Darren have a crash and I pitted and came out to cruise around for 2nd.

Jon had comfortably won and was untouchable all day.

I knew I had done enough to with the series, but little did I know how close.

With Jon's Tq point and win he came within 1 point of the series overall.

I'd like to say thanks to my sponsors;

Kyosho, FDL, AKA and REDS with thanks to Maugrafix, Sanwa and Savox.

A special mention should go to my pit crew; my mum, Shaun Gumbs and Tommy Chung.